Plant Polymer Research Unit

The focus of the Plant Polymer research unit is to develop new, cost - and performance competitive bio-based products from agricultural commodities. 

Researchers in this unit use chemical, physical, biological, and molecular modeling techniques to provide a fundamental understanding of how processing variables affect properties of starch and protein-based materials.  

The impact of this research is recognizable in specific applications for bioproducts, including water-resistant starch-based foams, starch and protein based biodegradable films, biodegradable composites for plastics applications, adhesives, and absorbent materials.